Q. Both of my parents are mentally ill, my mother suffering from Schizophrenia and my father from Manic Depression. Both of my parents had regular auditory hallucinations and paranoia. At 21, I've yet to suffer from any of their symptoms, but have been struggling with PTSD and related anxiety. Since I was aware enough to know my parents were ill, I've constantly monitored myself to make sure I wasn't sick like they were. From reading on this site and others, it appears that Schizophrenia shows up in women later than men. Could someone please talk about this more? Since I'm a 21 year old woman, I'd like to know if it's possible for me to still develop Schizophrenia (though I show no signs of it now and ...  
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Q. A year and a half ago my sister was hospitalized because she suffered from a mental break down. The doctors never gave her an exact diagnosis. They said that it appeared that she was suffering from schizoaffective disorder. She was released from the hospital and sent home with medication that was supposed to help her condition. 2 weeks later she stopped taking them and she was sent back to the hospital. Home again just a few weeks later she seemed to be more clear, not 100% but a huge improvement of how she was only weeks before. She began going to a Community Mental Health Center and was seeing therapists. She decided that she no longer wanted to take the meds that had stopped ...  
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Q. I think im Bipolar but i meet nearly all the things for schizophrenia to, please take me seriously i am a psy student..I am almost certain i am Bipolar i have thought about it for a number of years, recently (the last 18 months)ive begun to wonder if there is something else happening in my head. Diagnosing yourself is not something that works theres always going to be denial and i am a psychology student meaning mabye im biased.. I dont hear 'voices' but i have been hallucinating i often feel like im drunk and like nothing around me is actually seperate or external to me i just feel like im detached from my body kinda thing all the time. I feel like im in ...  
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Q. My best friend is married to a woman who is paranoid schizophrenic with severe depression. They have three children, two of which are now in college. My friend works two jobs, while his wife is spending money like they have it. She constantly accuses him of having affairs. She has actually driven to his place of work and waited in the parking lot just to see if he walks out with a woman. Her suspicions are completely unfounded, but my friend is constantly trying to prove to her that he isn't doing anything wrong. I could go on and on with the anecdotes, but I'm sure you get the idea. I guess my question is why does my friend live like this? He ...  
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Q. For as long as I can remember, I've thought there was something wrong with my head. I often even tell my friends that I have OCD, paranoia, bipolar disorder, and other mental disorders. At first I was joking, but as I gradually heard more and more about the disorders I didn't only think I had them, but I was sure of it. In the last month or so, things started getting so much worse. My OCD symptoms had always consisted of things like making strange patterns out of where I stepped, making sure to always complete everything to its highest possible extent or not finishing it at all, organizing things in obsessive or symmetrical order, and various other things that came up less often. But ...  
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Q. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia 2 years ago and I would like to know if I can be pregnant when I have schizophrenia. Is it possible for me to be pregnant? A. Barring any unexpected medical issues, you can have a diagnosis of schizophrenia and physically become pregnant. Having schizophrenia in no way makes you infertile or less likely to conceive a child. There are no physical ramifications or repercussions that occur in females that would prevent you from getting pregnant while you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Medically speaking, you are just as likely to become pregnant while being schizophrenic. I am not sure if I answered this to your satisfaction but I would encourage you to write in again if you have ...  
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Q. My son has been recently diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and is taking medicine for this problem. about eight weeks ago his eyes began rapidly blinking a few times a day, particularly when he was under stress. I brought this to the attention of the doctor who was treating him. but was told it would go away and was likely caused by depression and not medication. His meds and dosages were changed several times but the eye problem only got worse.As of this week he can no longer open his eyes at all!.In the weeks leading up to this, he was able to open them only for a few seconds at a time when he needed to eat or walk, etc. He saw an opthamologist ...  
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Q: Hi I am a singer from the midlands. I recently started dating a girl who is also a singer, she is lovely, very bubbly and friendly and hugely talented. We have been going out for a month. She recently told me a secret that shocked me a little, that she was adopted and her biological mother was diagnosed schizophrenic, and her dad was depressive because of her mothers illness, which is why she was adopted.

I suffer from bad anxiety, and its started me worrying about the possibility she will become schizophrenic. She never knew her parents, and her adopted family are lovely, a few members are estranged from the family, two brothers, which does upset her now and then, but her father and

...  
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Q. My wife has delusional disorder but believes there is nothing wrong with her even though several doctors have diagnosed her with this disorder. When she is medicated she acts pretty good but unfortunately she manages to somehow not take her meds even with me watching her. If we cannot find a medicine that we can guarantee she is taking we will have to send our children away to live with family or risk losing them to foster care. I have heard that there is a extended release injectible medicine called Depakote used in the treatment of delusional disorder that lasts three or four weeks long. Does anybody know anything about this? She is afraid of needles but has agreed to take a shot as ...  
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Q. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder since I was 17 or 18. Recently, within the last 8 months or so I have been taking medication for it. I take haloperidol, lithium, and benzotropine. My symptoms include hallucinations with all five senses, up and down mood swings, muscle spasms, and tremors. The muscle spasms and tremors are minimal. A friend of mine who is studying for a PHD in psychiatry said that it was rare to experience hallucinations with all five senses and that I may have a neurological disorder along with or instead of schizoaffective. She recommended a cat scan or an MRI. She said that I could have a number of things wrong, including lesions, MS, or seizures. Any insight or suggestions ...  
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Q. My sister is in pakistan she ihas schizophrenia she is 29 years old she has a 4 years old son and now pragnant this is her 7 or 8 month she had been in the hospital for many days they were not giving her strong medicines bec. she was pragnant but she was not getting well now they gave her a injection and said she will be getting it every week and i don,t know what they have done to her that she evn cannot open her eyes she is vv week and thin after cannot eat herself just walk arrond sleepy even if the hand is somewhere others have to move her hand eyes are close walkarround don,t know what she is saying ...  
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Q. Our 31 year old son who lives with us and has been in and out of Psychiatric hospitals is now in his room 24 hours a day and not eating or talking other than to say "I'm busy", "I need my privacy", "please don't bother me again" and "I AM EATING." We are not sure if he really thinks that he has eaten or if he is trying to end his life intentionally. We have called the crisis center, his Psychiatrist, and most recently the police. All of this to no avail. The police came out and determined that he does not qualify for a 5150 which would have forced him to the hospital for evaluation. Meanwhile he has not eaten a solid meal ...  
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